As BME and BIA strike together for a crucial skrimage on sunday I desided to steal an article from some guy named Steve (I think it was Steve, don't remember though) about how handle games like the one upcoming vs BIA. Have a nice reading!

First some fun Catfish facts:

The electric catfish, native to Africa, is capable of generating up to 350 volts.

The wells catfish is the largest European freshwater fish. Valued as a good eating fish, they can reach 10 feet in length and weigh hundreds of pounds. They eat fish and surface animals and have even been accused of attacking small children.

The Upside-Down Catfish, which lives in the Nile in Africa, often relaxes while swimming belly-up.

The Encyclopedia of Southern Culture gives catfish their own article which begins "Southerners have never aligned themselves as closely with any cold-blooded creature as they have with the feline-looking catfish."

The glass catfish is mostly transparent and often seen in aquariums. Catfish are also included in aquariums as scavengers, to help keep the tank clean.

The candiru, a small, worm-like South American catfish is the only vertebrate parasite of people. Perhaps the less said about this blood-sucking fish, dubbed Urinophilus diabolicus by one imaginative observer, the better.

There is a family of catfish which have developed air-breathing organs. One species is even known to migrate across land. Other interesting adaptations of catfish include poisonous barbs and the ability to live in caves.

BME hits quick and hard, like this catfish, you won't know what hit you! AccesZ is our best catfish fisher!

1. Rigging Methods
  
TIGHTLINING is a method that allows the fisherman to accurately control the lakefloor to bait distance. The rig for this method is as follows: Loop a baitholder (hooksize is dependent on the size of the bait) or a treble hook (depending on the bait used) onto the line a "preferred distance" from the end. Then tie a weight on to the end of the line (weight size depends on the current i.e. use a weight that will allow the rig to remain stationary in the water. Movement of the bait is not required and is often undesirable. Then using split shot, peg the hook the "preferred distance" above the weight. Experimentation will determine the "preferred distance" but a good starting point is about 18" to 24." This rig is productive when the foliage on the bottom of the lake may interfere with the catfish's attraction to the bait. For some reason, I seem to catch more flathead's with this method. Maybe it's just luck! Hint: It is very important to keep the line taught since many strikes, especially from big'uns are suttle.

 The SLIPWEIGHT method allows the bait to rest on the lakefloor. This method is recommended when fishing at night in shallow waters. (You do know that catfish tend to come in closer to shore to feed at night, right?) The first step in setting up a slip weight rig, is to slide a weight onto the line. It does not matter which type of weight, as long as it can slide along the line. Again water conditions and current will determine the weight of the sinker. Then pinch a split shot a "preferred distance" from the bottom of the line. Again experimentation will determine the optimal length of leader but again 18 to 24 inches is a good starting point. Finally tie the required hook on the end. Nothing has been mentioned of knots, but the "best" is the palomar knot. This know offers almost 100 percent strength and is easy to tie even at night. This slipweight method allows the sinker to translate along the fishing line. This movement will effectively mask the weight to a striking catfish. Basically will not feel the weight, and will not realize that the bait is fake until it is too late.

The MULTIBAIT style is another great method for catching great amounts of catfish. This method is notorious for catching more than one catfish at a time. Until this has happened to you a few times, you'll think that that the biggest catfish in the world fell for your bait. Preparing this rig is very simple. Splice a three way swivel onto your line and tie a leader of about 18" to 24" on each of the other swivels. Then tie on the required hook. I usually rely on the weight of the bait to sink the rig. And that's it. With this method determination of the best bait is possible by simply placing a different bait onto each hook and seeing which one draws more strikes. The ease and forgiveness of this rig plus the possiblity of catching two or more catfish at the same time make this technique a great choice for the beginner and advanced catfisherman.

People still learning step 1: Placid2, The Elfoid, Evil Jake, Skyline and Shade of Chaos

As game one starts BME is spreading their love for the myth community as usually. Kano is talking about blood, I am brushing dirt of my shoulder, Elfoid is picking his nose and Chohan (MBP) is extremly happy that Thierry Henry (F2BP After Ronaldinho) have just scored for France. Dwarf and Lars says something about game related chat and so it begings: Tank Clan is missing their best player, Clank Tank, and falls hard. Another great victory for BME. Game Over

Read this part particualry good Cheezefist, you might be able to use it in OMGWTF!

2. Bait

Much has been said about the rigs that are used. But no mention has been given to the specific baits. My favorite bait would be a toss up between chicken livers or raw medium sized grocery store shrimp. Both have been very successful baits for me since I began fishing. Shrimp is very simple to set up. The tail and skin of the shrimp should be peeled off and then the meat should be slid up a #6 baitholder hook. The shrimp will stay on the hook until a catfish decides to take it off. Chicken liver is a little bit more complex to rig up.  The technique that I use requires pantyhose. (I usually get some pretty funny stares from the cashier when I buy these. My mom stopped letting me use hers. I wonder why?) Rip of a piece of chicken liver about the diameter of a quarter. Wrap it in a piece of pantyhose leaving a tag end, and then thread the tag end of the pantyhose through a treble hook. Another technique involving chicken livers is to dry them in the sun. When the liver dries completely, it will be more than hard enough to stay on the hook. The only disadvantage is that sun dried livers will not put out as much odor as runny livers, but the change is minimal. Warning: Do not put nose over the carton! These two baiting methods have definitely been the most successful for me, and they are still the most common ones that I use today.

    Other great choices of bait include blood worms, dead minnows, nightcrawlers, catfish paste, crayfish, snails, cutbait, living or dead fish, and the numerous doughbaits available. Most breeds of catfish are oppurtunistic when they are young, feeding on almost anything they can their barbels onto. As catfish grow older, however, their tastes begin to mature and they will feed almost exclusively on other fish, living or dead. Therefore the most effective baits for older catfish are shrimp, cut bait, minnows, and panfish (Cut bait consists of slices of a dead fish's muscle from behind the gills). These are definetely the cheapest baits to acquire. Find a spot on the body of water that seems to attract many minnows or sunfish (usually shining a flashlight into the lake at night will entice many baitfish to the surface), and use a thrownet to catch them. Use these fish as your bait.

    For as long as I have been catfishing, I have always been taught that the most effective baits are those that nature produced. After catfishing for many years, I now follow this advice fervently. I mean, which would you rather eat: Shrimp or man-made dough bait? So when the doughbaits and pastes aren't working, go with shrimp, chicken livers, or any other natural bait to increase your catch. Another good idea: When fishing in the same location of a lake or river, rotate the bait periodically so as not to condition the fish's taste. This will allow a more dynamic selection of baits to choose from on any one occasion.

People still learning step 2: Cheezefist, Paris in Flames, THOR, tiger and Teenie!!!!!!!

Clank does a little dance, makes a little love and goes down on Raz. :( Tank Clan tries to flank the mighty BME with some myrks and a trow (I think, didn't really bother watching the film). Ox and Lars hits TC hard while Bullet Tooth Tony holds off the Trow and Myrks. Game Over. After the game Tony says something about catching the Big Fish. Is this fish good enough for you Tony? BIA awaits you next round.

3. Removing a Catfish from the Hook

 There are a few ways to remove a catfish. When we were kids stepping on their heads and simply cutting the line or wrenching the hook out of the poor catfish's mouth was the easiest way. The catfish never seemed to enjoy this, but we were kids, what did we know? Now, our sponsors and our conscience frown upon such primitive measures. Stepping on its head could also easily break a catfish's jaws thereby making them useless as a gamefish as well as handicapping them in their environment. The simplest way to remove a hook without harming the fish is to carefully slide your hand up its belly from the tail placing the fingers behind one side fin and the thumb behind the other. Try not to stick yourself with the fins. The deadly poison will get'cha! Make sure your grip is secure and remove the hook with only the required force by pliers. Make sure to tell rookie catfisherpersons that the fins are real soft and will not cut through arm.

People still learning step 3: Frumius, Arsenal, St. Joan, TIMMAH! and Enculator

4. Tackle    

Many questions have been received about tackle. First, let me just say that there as many different combinations of tackle as there are stars in the sky. Every pro, just as every fisherman, has different comginations of tackle that they choose. The best advice we can give is to explain the tackle that we use. One motif as guided our tackle buying expierences since we were kids, KEEP IT SIMPLE. More attention is devoted to the bait we use to attract the fish, rather than the tackle used to bring the fish in.

    The choice of tackle when fishing for smaller catfish (under or about 18 inches) is a 6 foot light to medium pole with a spinning real. Ten pound test line should suffice for this size of fish. I like braided lines like SpiderWire, because of their sensitivity. The lighter tackle allows more of the battle between man and fish that has so exemplified the sport. Even a small fish can put up a whale of a fight on this type of tackle. When going for the medium catfish or the big dogs there is no need to get cute with your tackle. Nothing but heavy action poles with tough baitcaster reels. Heavier lines are the only choice. I would say nothing less than 20 pound mono. I use 50 pound test Spiderwire. Missing the catch of a lifetime because you weren't using heavy enough equipment is an unbearable event that I and many other fisherman have had to live through.

    Let me make this clear, expensive equipment is not a requirement for enjoyable fishing. In fact my favorite spinning pole's total cost with Spiderwire was only 50 bucks. Expensive rods and reels are not as vital to the fish catching expierence as one would think. Now I am not saying that you should not purchase fishing tackle from reliable brands, nor am I saying that these super poles do not have their place. I am saying, however, for the beginner or intermediate, the benefits given by a "break the bank" pole are minimal and definetely not worth the price

On the topic of tackle, it is a good time to stress one of the most underrated links in the chain to catching a fish. More important than new space age fiber lines and $200 fishing poles are the sharp hooks that actually catch the fish. Too many fishermen overlook the benefits and necesities of an extremely sharp hook. Catfish are very strong and can easily throw a hook that is not implanted deeply into their mouths. With a dull hook, there is no guarantee that the hook will penetrate deeply enough to ensure that it will remain there. So to save much frustration, put off buying that new state of the art rod, and spend another dollar for premium hooks. For example one of the better hook companies is Gamakatsu. With a little upkeep, using a wet stone to resharpen and protecting them from rust, they should last forever, or until your little brother ties one on his spincast Zebco with an overhand knot.

People stuck at step 4: Rabican, East Wind, Chickenwire, Myrk Mork Mark and GRIM GROM GRAIM!

5. Chumming

Now would be a good time to mention my favorite method for catching catfish. Chumming is a very simple method that will reap majoy benefits. A fiasherman who chums his or her area before fishing will always catch more catfish than the person who doesn't. Chumming simply consists of throwing balls of a mixture of specific recipe into the area that is to be fished. Then you fish like normal. The chum will attract many more catfish to this area. It should be clear that the chum in the lake will need to be replenished occasionly which entails tossing more balls of mixture into the lake. Usually catching a catfish in a chummed area will not spook other fish in the area because they are feeding so heavily. The trick to this method is finding the right recipe for the mixture. Clearly it should contain the same bait that it is to be used on the hook. Well, the recipes that we use was devised using imagination and years of catfish feeding experience. Such recipes are not easily revealed and the method we suggest to find your personnel mixture is trial and error. Every lake is different, so the contents of mixtures will vary. Once the correct mixture is found, the fish frier will be cooking constantly. As a starting point, something that smells a great a deal is what people normally use to catch catfish. Usually putting this reeking substance into a pasty mixture of flour and water is a good starting point. Good luck and I would love to hear your expierences.

Myths best players: Chohan, Bullet Tooth Tony, Dwarf, Loial and Tirri (aka Drizzt)

Game Three. Tank Clan have gotten reinforcement and are now a much stronger team than in the earlier games as Ormuz Tank have arrived. Where is Clank? Lars Jaeger the Wightymeter leader so far, please correct me if I am wrong here, crashes out like usually on Calm. Bugma Please! The game related chat is lacking as Lars is sitting out in the lobby twisting his thumbs wondering how its going! I remember Dwarf yelling something to me about moving my clumped thralls in the beginning because they were in the way. Thralls who I didn't use all the game because they were so god damn slow. Me and Ox wins north while I have no clue whats going on south. France still has the lead at this point but manage to tie vs TEH Suckz0r team and might be out off the World Cup if they don't win next game with many goals. Loial is wondering if it really was worth watching the World Cup instead of playing myth as he comes online after the game asking for forgiveness from the rest of his team. Good Games Tank Clan and good luck in the rest of the tournament! This game you became a little bit to small though. We are sexy and we are hot! Real men fish and play myth bare chested! BIA, bring it on!